Lockeford couple loses home to fire

LOCKEFORD - Larry and Toni Miller stood in their front yard Wednesday afternoon, and as the husband put his arm around his wife's shoulder, the couple watched as their home of more than four decades burned.

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By Keith Reid

recordnet.com

By Keith Reid

Posted Sep. 19, 2013 at 12:01 AM

By Keith Reid

Posted Sep. 19, 2013 at 12:01 AM

» Social News

LOCKEFORD - Larry and Toni Miller stood in their front yard Wednesday afternoon, and as the husband put his arm around his wife's shoulder, the couple watched as their home of more than four decades burned.

Firefighters were dispatched to the Millers' home, in the 16000 block of Fox Road near Highway 12 in Lockeford, at 3:30 p.m. when flames and smoke were seen on the back side of the house, Mokelumne Rural Fire Chief Mike Kirkle said. By the time crews arrived, the back of the house was fully engulfed in flames.

Kirkle said firefighters tried to attack the flames initially, but the fire was too hot.

"The roof started to collapse, and that's when we went defensive," Kirkle said.

The fire spread to vegetation in the rural land and a canal behind the home. Kirkle said that fire was contained without any threat to other structures. Four local agencies helped to contain the fire, Kirkle said.

Toni Miller said she and her husband have lived in the home since 1970. Larry Miller was the fire chief of the small Mokelumne Rural Fire department in the 1980s.

It's the second loss the couple have seen. Their barn burned down six months ago, Toni Miller said.

Ironically, she added, that might have saved their lives. The Millers had just left their home at 3:25 p.m. to buy replacements of tools they lost in the barn fire.

Five minutes after they drove away, the fire started.

Kirkle said it's too soon for investigators to determine what caused the fire.

The Millers have a fifth-wheel trailer they can stay in if they need to, Toni Miller said as she was consoled by neighbors and friends.

"I don't know what we're going to do or where we will stay," Toni Miller said. "We do have some offers."